Grand Tour of Ireland

Board your overnight flight to Dublin today.

Welcome to Ireland! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Take a guided tour of Ireland’s charming capital city.

• Stop in Phoenix Park, site of the presidential residence, and pass by the Guinness Brewery
• Step inside the soaring St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Ireland’s largest church
• Pass St Stephen’s Green and admire the Georgian architecture of Merrion Square as you go
• See Trinity College and walk past the entrance of Grafton Street to see the Molly Malone statue
• End your tour in the iconic Temple Bar district

Enjoy a free afternoon in Dublin or add an excursion.

Leaving Dublin, travel a short distance southwest to County Kildare.

• Enter Wicklow Mountains National Park and make your way to the Glendalough Visitor Centre to learn about the historic site
• Explore the ancient monastery, passing by the Round Tower, stone churches, and decorated crosses
• Continue to Kilkenny, Ireland’s best-preserved medieval town
• Tour the imposing 12th-century Kilkenny Castle, overlooking the River Nore
• Pass by the Gothic St. Canice’s Cathedral, built in the 13th century

Please note: the sightseeing tour of Kilkenny may take place on day 5 and the sightseeing tour of Waterford may take place on day 4 November through February due to site closures.

Continue on to Waterford and sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Today, a local guide introduces you to Waterford’s legendary sites and exports.

• Learn about the city’s roots as a Viking settlements as you walk through the Waterford Viking Triangle
• Pass Reginald's Tower, a replica Viking ship, and the Dragon Slayer’s Sword
• See the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, the oldest Roman Catholic cathedral in Ireland
• Visit the Waterford Crystal Factory to learn about its world-famous crystal

Please note: the sightseeing tour of Kilkenny may take place on day 5 and the sightseeing tour of Waterford may take place on day 4 November through February due to site closures.

Continue on to the Rock of Cashel, an outcrop of limestone dominating Tipperary Plain.

• View the ruins of the ancient seat of the kings of Munster and the 12th-century Round Tower
• See one of the country’s finest examples of Romanesque stone carving, which dates back to 500 B.C., at Cormac’s Chapel

On your way to County Kerry, get a feel for the many sides of Ireland, from small villages to vibrant cities and iconic castles.

• Visit the Cobh Heritage Centre to see exhibits that highlight the story of Irish emigration over the past 150 years
• Climb to the top of Blarney Castle to kiss the famed Blarney Stone, which is said to grant the “gift of gab”

Travel around the Ring of Kerry, a 112-mile coastal route that covers some of Ireland’s most spectacular scenery.

• Pass the pristine Lakes of Killarney in Killarney National Park and gaze across Dingle Bay
• Enjoy unsurpassable views of mountains, beaches, and the Atlantic Ocean
• Explore the picturesque villages that line the Ring of Kerry including the village of Sneem, “The Knot in the Ring”

Sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Head north to Galway today, taking time to view spectacular scenery en route.

• Walk along the mesmerizing coastline of the Cliffs of Moher
• Pass through the Burren, a unique limestone plateau where fields of rock are dotted with wildflowers

Continue on to Galway for a sightseeing tour of the city led by your Tour Director.

• Stroll past Lynch’s Castle, Galway Cathedral, the Druid Theater Company, and the broad expanse of Eyre Square
• View the city’s medieval walls and Spanish Arch
• Peruse authentic Claddagh rings in a local shop

Enjoy a free evening in County Galway or add an excursion.

Spend a free day in County Galway or add excursions.

Pay a visit to Glen Keen Farm, one of the largest sheep farms in Ireland, on your way to Sligo.

• Learn about sheep farming while soaking in the natural beauty that defines the area
• Watch an interactive sheep herding demonstration
• Enjoy a traditional lunch of Glen Keen Farm Lamb Stew, dessert, coffee, and tea

Please note: Vegetarian options are available for the included lunch.

After, continue on to Sligo.

On your way to Northern Ireland, journey through the landscapes immortalized by the poetry of William Butler Yeats.

• Pay your respects at Yeats’ grave in the Drumcliffe churchyard and learn about this cemetery's unique history from a chaplain
• Continue on to Derry, Northern Ireland’s second-largest city, for a guided tour
• See the 17th-century city walls and learn about the history of the conflicts that took place between the Protestant and Catholic populations

Get to know Belfast, the cultural heart of Northern Ireland, from a local’s perspective on a guided tour.

• Glimpse the copper-domed City Hall and the recently restored Grand Opera House
• Learn all about Belfast’s long history, from its origins in the Bronze Age and rise as an international seaport to its role in the conflict known as “the Troubles”
• Enter the Titanic Belfast Museum for a look at the vessel’s infamous history

Enjoy a free afternoon in Belfast or add an excursion.

Enjoy a free day in Belfast or add an excursion.

This evening, celebrate your trip with your group at a farewell dinner.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay to visit Scotland.